Kolinjivadi

Monday, April 7, 2014

So far in this blog i wrote about the fame of Kolinjivadi Agraharam. But i am witnessing a kind of dullness covering the entire village very fast. I can't avoid writing about the downfall of this pinnacle.

Today is Sri Rama Navami. We don't have any celebrations or events or special poojas happening in the Venugopala Krishna Temple. 85 year old tradition has been broken now.

Lot of Brahmin families migrated to cities and other countries. It is really tough to manage Sri Ramanavami Utsavam with current situation.

During his term last year, Sri.Ananthanarayanan (priest) somehow managed the celebration of Sri Ramanavami Utsavam and Sita Kalyanam.

This year unfortunately, the term is not with him.

The person responsible for conducting the Utsavam this year is so negligent and not showing any interest on it.

It is really hard to control the emotions as i am witnessing the downfall of this lively Agraharam. Preparing my mind to see the worst ever happened.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

I Want to share some of the moments captured from Kolinjivadi. I will keep on publishing some photographs of our Agraharam time to time in parts. This will be the first set of photos.

Photos Courtesy: Mrs.Vijayashree Sridhar, Bangalore.

1. This is the street which takes us to the Amaravathi River Bathing place and Dakshinamoorthy Temple. Place holder no: 10

This photo was taken during Thiruvadhirai Festival (Arudhra Dharisanam), in the month of Margazhi(December/january). It is a custom in our Agraharam, during Arudhra we put big kolams in front of the house (pure white,without Rangoli) to welcome Lord Natarajar.Houses from the right: Mohan Iyer, K.S.Viswanatha Iyer, Nalla Subramanya Gurukkal.

2. Main double street leading to Krishna Temple. You can see the transformation, which is happening in the Agraharam now a days. Kolinjivadi started losing its glory like most other Agraharam's of Tamilnadu. Place holder no: 5

3. Today's view of Some of the good old houses which were being kept closed for, almost more than a decade.Place holder no: 5Houses From the left: Santhana Deekshithar, Raju Deekshithar, M.S.Gopala Iyer.

4. Sri Dakshinamoorthy - Witnessed the heights of Kolinjivadi long ago, now witnessing the downfall of the Agraharam. This form of Dakshinamoorthy is called as "Medhaa Dakshinamoorthy". Place holder no: 2

5. Hundred year old Bridge constructed during the British Empire over the Amaravathi River. To the left of the bridge by the bank of the river, we can see Chakkara Vinayagar Temple. Place holder no: 19 , 23

6. Sri Agastheeswarar and Akhilandeshwari Temple view from the Amaravathi River. It is common to see the house hold names of Akhilandam, Akhila, Meenkashi, Kamakshi, Sundaresan,etc across Kolinjivadi. They have been named after the presiding deities in and around the temples of Kolinjivadi. Place holder no: 21

7. Sri Natarajar Purappadu during Arudhra Day,from Meenakshi Chokkanathar temple.During our childhood days, it's a fun for us to draw the cart were the Urchava Moorthy is mounted, across the streets of Kolinjivadi Agraharam. Place holder no: 17

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Kolinjivadi has a great tradition of 80+ years in conducting Sri Rama Navami Utsavam.During the Sri Rama Navami(April) time, we have 10 days of Utsavam where great artists used to perform Kutcheri's every evening in front of the Krishnan Temple.After the kutcheri, there always will be a special Deepa Aarathanai followed by Veda Gosham. Then they distribute Prasadams to all the devotees. Bhajanai songs starts with in praise of Pillayar and ends with Hanuman covering all the deities.The first day Utsavam begins with the narration of Rama Avataram. Usually great scholars like Sanskrit Pandit Sri.Venkateshwara Sharma used to present the discourse.

The 10th Day of the Utsavam, Sita Kalyanam which is the highlight of the show. Great Bhagavathas like Viswanatha Mama, Babu Mama lead the function with Bhajana Samprathayams and Kalyaana Utsavam. After the Thiru Kalyanam, there will be a grand feast (Prasadham) arranged for the people of our Agraharam. We kids as a community used to serve food, take part in Swami Purappaadu,etc. Special cooks brought from Nagaiyanallur used to prepare food for this event. We used to play a lot of games under the Sri Rama Navami Pandhal (Stage) in evening time before the Kutcheri begins. On Sita Kalyanam Day, Swami Purappadu will be there after the sun set. Utsavar of Lord Krishna will be decorated and mounted gracefully over a wooden chariot. We kids as a group, used to pull the chariot across all the streets of the Agraharam. The chariot will pause for Deepa Aradhana in front of each and every house so that the householders can get the blessings of the Lord Krishna. Finally, the chariot returns back to the temple. By the time it will become 10 'O' clock at the night. Then the main picture begins. Bhagavathas will collectively start singing Ashtapathi(Gita Govindam).It consists of 24 verses composed by Saint Jayadeva. For each and every verse, one sweet will be served to the god as Nivedyam followed by a Deepa aradhanai. Totally, there will be 24 varieties of Bakshanams(Sweets and savories) offered to the God. Then starts Pavalimbu utsavam,Konangi Samaradhanai,etc and lasts for the whole night.By the time these things completed it will be almost dawn outside. Then comes Vishwaroopa Dharisanam. It is a special Dharisanam of the Lord Krishna in the early morning. They bring a cow with a calf inside the temple and perform special poojas during the time. Milk theertham will be distributed and that concludes Sita Kalyana Utsavam.Next day, it is called as Anjaneya Utsavam fully dedicated to Lord Hanuman. They prepare special Vada Malai (made out of Ulundu) with 108 vadas and dedicate it to Lord Hanuman following special poojas and Bhajanais.Again a grand feast will be offered to the people as a prasatham.In the evening, they distribute Vada Prasadam along with the 24 varieties of Bhakshanams to the people of Kolinjivadi.Expenses of conducting Sri Rama Navami Utsavam for 10 days will be collectively borne by the people of Kolinjivadi Agraharam. Other major expenses like Bhagavathar Samrakshanai, Electricity supply, etc were borne by C.N.Subramaniya Iyer (Vembu Mama). He is the great philanthropist behind this successful show.That concludes the grand SriRamanavami Utsavam.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

The major community of Kolinjivadi Brahmins are Smarthas(Iyers). Next to Smarthas Vaishnavas(Iyengars) and Siva-acharyas(Kurukkal) took their part.

There are more than 150 houses as a part of this Agraharam. It has various sub-sects of smarthas like Brahacharanam, Vadamal, Ashtasahasram, Mukkaani, Vaathima, Chozhia, Telugu & Kannada Brahmins,etc., Most of the Vaishnavas residing here belongs to Thenkalai (Pancharathram). Remaining we have Siva-acharya community.

People spread across all the major three vedas (Rig,Yajur and Sama)but the majority of Kolinjivadi population comprised of Yajur vedis.

Being a part of Coimbatore District of the British Period (Currently Tiruppur District), brahmins of Kolinjivadi were humble and modest by nature.

They were highly educated and very much respectful to elders. Due to the compulsion of time and family situation, most of them are migrated to cities like Madras, Bangalore, Coimbatore, etc.

A beautiful view of Amaravathi River and Agastheeswarar Temple by the side of it .

Many people migrated to foreign countries and settled across the globe like America, Dubai, Singapore, Uk, Australia, etc.

Now, the Agraharam still remains the same in structure but not with the Brahmin people. Today, only 15% of the families are Brahmin families.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Kolinjivadi - One of the ancient Brahmin establishments in Tamilnadu. It is a beautiful agraharam situtated by the banks of the river Amaravathi (Aan Porunai in Tamil). Here, the speciality of Amaravathi is, she is flowing as Uttaravahini (towards north).

This village is situated in the Kongu Region of Tamilnadu and the biggest brahmin establishment among the K-Villages(Kolinjivadi, Kaniyur, Kadathur, Kozhumam, Komaralingam, Kannadiputhur, Karathozhuvu) situated by the bank of Amaravathi.

The nearest town is Dharapuram(Viratapuram of Mahabharatham Period) of Tiruppur District. River Amaravathi seperates Dharapuram and Kolinjivadi.

In ancient days, we have dense mango gardens by the sides of amaravathi and hence she got the name derived from the sanskrit word aambra(mango) vathi.

There is a temple dedicated to Lord Kameshwaran and Kamakshi by the banks of the river. Facing south, a beautiful Dakshinamoorthi is there within the temple premises. Scholars claim that the god is of type Medha Dakshinamoorthi.

Kolinjivadi is a well planned and well formed village having a beautiful Krishna temple to its centre as a nucleus. The presiding deity is Rukmani Sathyabama samedha Venugopala Krishnan. The moolavar Krishna is standing in a posture of playing flute and being accompanied by Rukmani and Sathyabama having encircled with a herd of cows.

At this temple, every year during April, we have a grand celebration of Sri Rama Navami Utsavam for ten days followed by Seetha Kalyanam and Anjaneya Utsavam. This celebration is being practiced for more than 85 years.

Great Bhagavathas and Vaidheegas will take part of the celebration and present their pravachanams time to time. Kuthcheri's of eminent classical musicians were also be a part of the Utsavam.

To the east of the agraharam, we can see lush green paddy fields. By the other end of the fields there is a huge temple of Pandya period. The presiding deities are Meenakshi and Sokkanathar. Nearby villages Meenakshipuram and Sokkanathapalayam were named after the deities of this temple. There is a canal catering the paddy fields flows, to the east of the temple.

The whole agraharam of kolinjivadi lies in between the amaravathi river to the west and the Meenakshi Sokkanathar temple to the east.

To the extreme north of the village there exists Thillapuri Amman Temple. This is the place where Pandavas hide their belongings during their Ajnana Vasam.